Floor polisher



Sept. 1.7, 1935.

A. E. MOORHEAD' OOOOOOO L1 SHER rigi al F' pril 2 3 Sheets-Sheet l Y U yMl LIM H Hf 79 if] ed i 1 A NUL 11|m0000 0} 00 l@ G C)v G' III OI@,7006/710/1 am Q Q um 0500W|0 000}0 @Har/veg Sept 17, 1935. A. E.MOORHEAD O 2,014,66

FLOOR POLI SHER original Filed April 22, 1929 3 sheets-sheet l2 jme/Nor/eff E. Z700/"head Bj W f-/w Sept. 17, 1935. A. E. MQORHEAD 2,@l42

FLOOR POLISHER" Original Filed April 22', 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mummyPatented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOOR POLISHERApplication April 22, 1929, Serial No. 357,180 Renewed February 23, 19354 Claims.

This invention relates to floor polishing,l and especially to ahousehold polishing device that is larranged to be operated by a smallelectric motor.

Motor driven brushes for polishing floors have been suggested in thepast. Polishing was done by applying wax to the floors or to a waxingcloth fastened to the brush. Then, when the brush was rotated, thefriction created thereby caused a high polish tobe produced.

The same mechanism of course can be used to scrub the floors with acleaning Yliquid prior to the application of wax. The liquid has beenusually either poured on the iioor or on the cloth covering the brush;and after cleaning, the wax is applied. After the wax is well rubbed in,a polish can be given the oors by a thirdoperation, using a dry fabric,such as felt, or the like, on the brushes.

In such old schemes, it is apparent that it is laborious to apply thewax or cleaning material; and accordingly it is one of the objects of myinvention to make it possible to apply the material either for cleaningor polishing, in a very simple manner.

I accomplish this object by arranging matters in `such a way that theoperator who uses the device need merely wrap a fabric or paper or otherabsorbent material around the brushes, said fabric or paper beingpreviously impregnated with the cleaning or polishing material, andwhich can conveniently be supplied to the user in the form of a roll orthe like.

It is also another object of my invention to provideV a novel andimproved form of oor treating instrument; and especially one in whichthe tendency of the instrument to drag or pull as it is operated on thefloor is obviated.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a floor treatingdevice in which the buffing action is secured by the aid of a pressurecreated by centrifugal force, acting on the buffing material, to producea floating contact with the floor.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be mademore easily apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in thedrawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. Ishall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates thegeneral principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since thescope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a polisher attachment embodying myinvention; the polishing 5 cloth being indicated only in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 isa sectional View taken along plane 3 3 of Fig. 2, and showingin outline, the power unit for operating the polisher. l0

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the polisher;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along plane 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 illustrates a roll of the impregnated material that can be usedin connection with my l5 device; and

Fig. '7 is a diagram of another form of material that can be used inlieu of that shown in Fig. 6.

I show a pair of circular elements I I, I2 mount- 20 ed for rotationaround a horizontal axis. In the present instance, these elements areshown as soft, flexible brushes. These brushes can be coaxial to extendacross the front portion of the mechanism and are arranged to be drivenso that 25 their lower portions can rest on the oor I3 for treating thefloor. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, each brush can be provided witha pair of flanges I4, l5 between which a bristle supporting cylinder IIican be fastened; and the 30 cylinder I6 as well as the flanges arefastened as by keying to a shaft I 1. This shaft has a bearing I8 at oneend in a frame I9, and at the other end, a roller bearing 2l) can beprovided,

fastened into the frame I9. 35

The frame I9 in which the brushes are rotatably mounted, is made of twohalves to permit ready assembly. In this instance, they overlap at themedial line, as indicated at 2l, and are fastened together by the aid ofthe screws 22. 40

The tops of the frame sections are open for facilitating inspection,repairs and assembling. They can be kept covered over by sheet metalparts 23.

As shown most clearly in Fig, 3, the frame I9 serves to define a spacefor the provision of 45 transmission elements whereby brushes II, I2 canbe. rotated from a shaft 24. Before describing these transmissionelements in detail, however, I shall refer more particularly to thoseparts of the device which are needed for facili- 50 tating the placingof an impregnated material over the brushes for providing the cleaningor polishing function.

Extending across the front of the frame I9, is a bar 25, in which are apair of horizontal 55 slots 26. Each of these slots extends across thefront face of a brush II or I2 so as to permit the introductiontherethrough of material intended to be wrapped around the brushes. Suchmaterial is indicated at 21, Fig. 4. In order to anchor the material atits end to the brush upon which it is to be placed, I show a pair ofhooks 28, for each brush, and each fastened respectively in thesupporting cylinder I6 at its ends. These hooks can be formed as pointedwires, the points of which can readily pass through Vthe material 21, asseen in Fig. 4. This material is stretched across the brush by the aidof these hooks; then by imparting rotation to the brushes, the materialis wound on the brushes. Thus winding of the material by power isadvantageous, as it provides an automatic means for Yplacing thematerial over the brushes.

The roll 29 from which material 21 is cut, is illustrated in Fig. 6. Itcan carry markings, such as 30, by the aid of which proper lengths ofthe material can be cut off to extend around the brushes one or moretimes. With six inch diameter brushes, for example, a yard of materialcan readily be wound on the brushes, to produce a double layer thereon.When the material gets soiled, it can not only be reversed, but that endwhich was engaged by the hooks can be substituted for the free end; andin this way, at least four changes can be had from each length ofmaterial 21. The provision of roll 29 of such impregnated material, withthe appropriate lengths marked off as at 30, renders the use of mypolisher very convenient. It is merely necessary to cut olf the rightlength of material, pass it through the slot 26, fasten it across thehooks 21, and then start the brushes. As the brushes rotate, thematerial 21 will be drawn in and will l be wrapped around them. 40

Instead of fabric, rough absorbent paper, such as 68, (Fig. '7) can beused, impregnated with wax or the like. Perforations 69 can be providedto provide recesses for comparatively large masses of wax, formingsubstantially wax wafers. Either form, however, is prepared for readyuse with the material such as wax or oil, and even if it hardens, it canstill be as effectively used as if it were fresh. This hardening is nota detriment in this case. If such material were stored in bulk as is nowcommon, difficulty would be experienced to spread it due to itshardening. No such difliculty exists when pre-spread as hereindescribed,

The cover members 23, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, can each beanchored in a groove 3l formed in the top edge of the bar 25. In thisway, a smooth outline for the completed machine is secured.

I have found that if both brushes I I and I2 be rotated in the samedirection, there is a tendency for these brushes to produce a tractioneffect on the floor, so that if the machine be moved in one direction,the brushes have a tendency to-carry the machine away from the operator;and if moved in another direction, the brushes produce a material drag.In order to avoid this tendency, I arrange matters in such a way thatthe brushes II and I2 are rotated in opposite directions. In order thatthe material 21 be nevertheless drawn over both brushes when they arerotated, I provide the hooks 28 on brush I2 to extend in a directionreverse to those on brush II. I shall now describe how the brushes IIand I2 are driven.

Thepower for the brushes is obtained from a small encased electric motor32 that is provided with the usual manipulating handle 33, and wheels34. The motor casing in this instance is shown as provided with a flange35 serving to house a detachable clutch mechanism for attach- 5 ing thebrush structure to the motor. For this purpose, the motor shaft 36extends into the space defined by the flange 35; it carries a wheel 31having a number of pockets 38 in each of which is slidable a springpressed projection 39. These l0 projections 39 are each provided with arecessed end 4i! to accommodate the compression spring 4I for urgingthem outwardly through apertures in the face of wheel or disc 31. Screwplugs 42 serve to keep these springs in place. l5 The projections 39 arearranged to slip into `corresponding apertures 43 in the other portionof the separable clutch, including the disc This' disc has a flange 45telescoping over the wheel or disc 31. It is evi-dent that when 20 thistelescopinglis effected, and shaft 36 rotated, the projections will soonfind their seat in apertures 43 and will thereupon positively drive thedisc 44 and the shaft 24 which is attached thereto.

The shaft 24 is journaled in bearing 45 in a disc 25 41 that isfastened, as by screws 48, to the frame I9. This disc 41 has a flange 49closely telescoping over flange 35, and appropriately detachablyfastened thereto. For this purpose, flange 49 may be provided, as shownin Fig. 4, with one B Shaft 24 carries a bevel gear 52 that serves 3K5nto drive a pair of bevels 53 and 54 (Fig. 2) in opposite directions.Attached to these gears are the spur gears 55 and 56. 'I'hese gearsrotate freely on a shaft support 51 extending between walls 58, 59 offrame I8. Gears 55 and 56 in 40 turn rotate gears 68, 6I in oppositedirections. These gears are supported at one side on stub shaft 62supported in a stationary standard 63.

These gears 60, 6I are shown as driving the brushes II, I2 through aone-way drive. The 45 brushes II, I2, for this purpose, can be fastenedto ratchet wheels 65, 66, respectively, as by being formed integrallywith the shaft I1 of the brushes. Each of the gear wheels 68, 6I carriesa spring pressed pawl 61, to engage ratchet wheel 65 or 66. A projectionor stub shaft 64 extending from each wheel 65 and 66 serves to supportthe wheel properly by engaging into a recess in the adjacent ratchetwheel. Du'e to the provision of this one-way drive it is possible towind the material 21 on to the brushes without the necessity of rotatingthe motor shaft 36.

The motor 32 rotates the brushes II, I2 at such a rate that the fabric21 mounted thereon is urged by centrifugal force to press against lthefloor, producing a floating contact. The brushes being exible, areslightly flattened at the point of contact. Thus due to this centrifugalforce, the weight on the brushes need not be excessive, the pressingbeing secured by other means.

It is obvious that I have provided a compact, detachable polishingdevice that can be driven by a portable power unit. The cleaning orpolishing acts can be performed by placing over the brushes, cloth orother material that is impregnated with a cleaning fluid or with apolishing medium. This material can be prepared by dipping it in a fluidbath of the cleaning or waxing medium. After impregnation, the materialcan be folded or rolled and sold in separate packages.

I claim:

1. In a floor treating machine, a rotatable brush structure havingradial bristles, means for driving said brush, a exible material Woundseveral times around the brush, and means whereby only the inner end ofsaid material is fastened to the brush structure.

2. In a oor polishing machine, a pair of rotatable brushes having acommon drive, means for rotating said brushes in opposite directions,and means whereby flexible floor treating material can be fastened overthe brushes, said material being secured Ito said last named means onlyat one end whereby rotation of the brushes will serve to Wind saidmaterial thereon.

3. A oor treating machine, including a rotatable yielding roll, oortreating material wound more than once over the roll and having only itsinner end attached to the roll, and means for so rotating the roll thatthe free end of the material presses outwardly by the centrifugal forceset up by the rotatable element.

4. A oor treating machine, including a r0- tatable yielding roll, floortreating material, Wound more than once over the roll and having onlyits inner end attached to the roll, and power means for rotating theroll to Wind said material thereover.

ALBERT E. MOORHEAD.

